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The Sports Xchange

Sep 29, 2012

, Last Updated: 12:46 PM ET

Billy Hunter, the National Basketball Players Association executive director, made $3 million in the last fiscal year, USA Today reported Saturday, citing NBPA documents filed with the United States Department of Labor.

That constitutes a $600,000 - or 25% - raise over the previous year.

The financing and spending practices of the NBPA have been scrutinized since last spring. Several members of Hunter’s family were either on the payroll or employed with companies to which the union made payments.

Hunter’s daughter, Robyn Hunter and his daughter-in-law Megan Inaba were on the union’s payroll. Union payments went to Prim Capital, a financial services company where Hunter’s son is partner; and a law firm, Steptoe and Johnson, which employs another of Hunter’s daughters, Alexis Hunter.

Robyn, director of player benefits and concierge services earned $89,695. Inaba is the director of special events and sponsorships, made $167,100. The NBPA paid Prim Capital $594,900 and Steptoe and Johnson $1.367 million in the last fiscal year.

The scrutiny led the union to hire Theodore V. Wells Jr. and law firm Paul, Weiss, Rifkind, Wharton and Garrison for an independent review and financial audit. The U.S. Attorney’s Office in Manhattan is also involved in an investigation.

Hunter declined an interview with USA Today through a spokesman. Hunter told The New York Times in April: “There’s nothing illegal, and you’re not going to find anything illegal, you or anybody else, if that’s what you’re looking for. I’m not afraid of that.”

Hunter helped negotiate a new collective bargaining agreement with the NBA in late November after a 149-day lockout last year.

National Football League Players Association executive director DeMaurice Smith made $2.49 million from March 1, 2011 to Feb. 28, 2012. Former NFLPA executive director Gene Upshaw, now deceased, was paid $4.26 million 2006-07, according to Department of Labor filings.

Major League Baseball Players Association executive director Michael Weiner earned $1 million last year. Donald Fehr, who is now with the National Hockey Players’ Association, was paid $1 million a year for several years when he held a similar title with the MLB players’ union.